Farmstrong gets behind Spirited Women event

Module Overview

A team of four rural women pushed themselves to their limits mentally and physically, taking out first place in a newly created Farmstrong category of the Spirited Women adventure race.

The team, named the Riversdale Route Finders, consisted of Nicole Cochrane, Emma Bain, Christine England and Kirsty Peake.

The challenging one-day event sees teams of four women navigate a secret course on foot, mountain bike and kayak, with a few mystery challenges thrown in along the way.

This year’s Spirited Women – All Women’s Adventure Race was held in February in Twizel in the South Island and is the first time Farmstrong has supported the event, with 38 teams entering the Farmstrong category.

The Riversdale Route Finders, who are all mothers of young children, initially met at a local playgroup in Waikaia, a small rural town north of Gore, and decided to enter the event.

The team completed the event in just under eight hours coming first in the Farmstrong Medium Course category and third in the Open Medium Course category.

Sense of accomplishment

Team leader Nicole, 35, a Farming Systems Specialist at DairyNZ and mother of two, says the event was a fantastic opportunity to get away for the weekend and have a blast with her friends.

“We were so surprised we got anywhere but so happy,” Nicole laughs.

The team faced many challenges along the way, but working together, drawing on each other’s strengths (and a bit of luck) got them through.

“During the bike ride, my tyre exploded. The night before we happened to watch a video on how to change a tyre so that was very lucky. None of us had changed a tyre before but we pulled together and got it done in 15 minutes,” Nicole says.

“You get pushed to your limit and can get tired, so you need a strong and supportive team, and you need to be working together where everyone brings their strengths on the day to make you successful.”

She says the event provided a good excuse to get off the farm and do something different.

“You have a good laugh, it’s good for your mental health and you feel a million times better. You also get a sense of accomplishment achieving something you didn’t think you could do. It fills your cup.”

Hubbies step in to help

Finding the time to train and get away for the weekend is super challenging for busy, working women with young kids, says Nicole.

“The weekend we were away, the hubbies all stepped up and looked after the kids. They spent quality time with them and took them to their activities, which was great because that forced them also to get off the farm. It was a win-win for everyone.”

Nicole says it’s important for women to make sure they find the time to do something for themselves.

“As mums, and especially as rural women, there’s always so much to do. We’re rushing around for everybody else and often juggling a lot so it’s important to find time for yourself.

“Being a mum can sometimes feel like a thankless job, so it’s been great to have a personal goal to work towards and tick off,” she says.

“If there’s something you want to achieve for yourself, then just do it because otherwise there will always be another job or task that pops up and tries to take that time away from you. If there’s something beneficial that makes you feel good, then that flows on and is beneficial for everyone else around you, too.”

Each winning team member in the three Farmstrong course categories (Short, Medium and Long Course) received a Farmstrong goody bag and $100 restaurant voucher.

“I’d like to give a shout out to Farmstrong for getting involved in the event and acknowledging rural women,” Nicole says.

Abdominals get a workout from laughing

Team member Emma, 37, who lives on a dairy farm and has three young children, says the event helped her make her health a priority.

“It was so much fun and our abs got the most workout from laughing. It’s got me back into fitness – which makes me feel great again after having kids – which I’d put in the too hard basket.

“It’s made me prioritise myself, which makes me happier and a better mum.”

Teammate Christine, 36, lives on a sheep and beef farm and has two children.

The best part for her was challenging herself and having fun with her friends.

“As hard as it gets at times, we were always smiling and having a laugh.”

She looks after her wellbeing by prioritising time for herself.

“I take time for myself each week to get off farm and be child-free to go for a walk or bike somewhere.”

Prioritising ‘me time’ key to wellbeing

This was the second time competing in the event for Kirsty Peake, 37, a sharemilker with three children.

“I feel like I’ve found something that challenges me, that I can be good at and also compete in a team that I enjoy spending time with socially.”

She says one of the challenges for rural women is sometimes feeling like you’re not doing anything right.

“You feel you should be spending more quality time with the kids, should be doing more within the business, working more hours off farm or keeping the house cleaner,” Kirsty says.

“It’s easy to lose track of yourself and what’s important and put all of your energy into what others think is important.

“I’ve realised I need to prioritise myself (health and exercise) and sometimes that feels selfish, but I feel better and I have more patience and enjoyment for my husband and kids.”